So i now have a sand substrate in my tank(going to add some more today)...But i was at the pet stores and all i saw was 5 dollar emerald cories and 4 dollar pygmy(or albino i forget) at petsmart...then at petco(I did not like it there) they had emerald cories for 3.49 dollars(something like that) and albino(or pigmy) cories for 2.99(i forget exact prices now but petco is cheaper)...So what type of corie should i get? Should i look at more stores for better prices or more selections? I might get them Monday or wendesday

molliefan09

01-16-2010 08:26 AM

i personally, would look around for a LFS and check them out....petco and petsmart dont always have the most knowledgable fish staff and their fish arent always the healthiest....i personally LOVE the albinos

pretzelsz

01-16-2010 08:33 AM

i wanted to go to pet world a lfs but it was 730 and i still needed to go to home depot for sand. last time i went to a LFS it was aplace called uncle neds fish factory(might be a chain not sure) and they had some of the lack and white spotted ones but didn't know abut the scooling or the sand so if anyone knows andy good fish stores in MA near dedham or something that'd be great.

rrcoolj

01-16-2010 09:55 AM

If you can't get any others I would get the emerald cories. I kept them for 2 years and they look great as adults. They get this beautiful green sheen to them. I believe they are the most underrated cory species.

pretzelsz

01-16-2010 10:27 AM

the ones that the stores had were fairly big(keep in mind i only have a 20 gallon tank) and very nice green so i think they were grown up already so they might not last long is my concern but i will look at the other petco and if i can find a LFS. i have 9 inches total finsh right now but some have an inch to grow yet so.. Do bottom feeders take up alot of gallons? i dont want to over crowd.

Angel079

01-16-2010 10:46 AM

Scrap the inch per gallon fish idea. Make it depend on what actual stock you already have (like what fish and how many).
On a 20g I'd get a group of like 8; just bare in mind the emerald green & bronze get about 2.5" as adults, others like panda, skunk, julii stay lil smaller.
I find $4-5 lil pricey for any cory, generally any & all I seen and bought are around $2.5-3.

pretzelsz

01-16-2010 10:57 AM

i have 7 swordtails(5 fully grown), 3 zebra danios(1 fully grown), and alot of snails. Should i order fish online? I have always one to stores and if i do order online should i wait till spring? i just want another addition to my tank. and i was going to get 6 of them but if 8 is the right amount for a 20 gallon i will get 8

Byron

01-16-2010 01:22 PM

There are so many species of Corydoras, I suggest you check them out before buying any just because they are locally available. You may decide you prefer others. On number, 6 would be fine, and probably my recommendation in your 20g with what you have.

The "emerald" corys are sometimes not true Corydoras. Corydoras aeneus is often seen under common names like Bronze Cory, Green Cory, Emerald Cory, and others. But a similar-looking fish, Brochis splendens, is also commonly named "Emerald Cory" even though it is a different genus. Brochis get larger than Corydoras, and that is a concern in smaller tanks.

I prefer buying fish locally so I know what I'm getting, it is relatively healthy, and I don't have to fuss over problems related to shipping (winter weather is a concern as you mention).

Byron.

Angel079

01-16-2010 06:27 PM

I'd also not buy them online, go shop locally and SEE what you wanna get. Like I said up top, some Cory's grow bigger then others; was this my tank and I'd pick smaller Cory I'd get 8, if I get a larger kind Cory I'd go with 6. Then once you decided, go to your store and pick the one's you want out.

pretzelsz

01-16-2010 08:04 PM

i want to get a cool one other then albino...sooo is there another catfish group r alone i can get? i still want to plant so i'll get some sword plants and a piece of driftwood???